Today is my first day ALONE! Just yesterday.. the A TEAM officially was completely disassembled when dear Kyle got on the train for Paris... I am soooo sad... and then this morning Simon got up at 6 am to leave for Venice. That has been my group of friends here in Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre... and today I find myself kind of in a sad mood just because I didn't want my time with those people to end... but then I realized that nomatter what... in life.. people always come and go... they come into our lives for who knows how long.. and then it is inevitable that they leave... whether it be moving, end of relationships, or death.... and it is so important not to take your time with friends and loved ones for granted... nomatter how permanent you think someone is in your life.. you never know when he or she could be taken away or gone... A lot of times in relationships people try to control the other person... and people get taken for granted... It seems like we treat the people we care most about the worst.. maybe it is because of this false sense of security and the feeling that 'they will always be there'... So I am sorry mom for all the times I have been a little shit... and to anyone else.... haha.... I have 3 more days here in Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre. Last night Simon and I went to dinner. I had stuffed mussels and he had some pasta dish. It was really good. He wouldn't let me pay for mine either. I didn't spend a dime yesterday. I really don't feel like Europe is that expensive... I think it equals out to what you would spend in the US... as long as you don't go to clubs or really fancy restaurants.. which I havent done at all. The fruit stands here are incredible! There are apples that are almost as big as my head.. and the cherries are huge... its all organically grown..and so fresh. That is one thing I love about Italy. There are no fast food chains...almost everyone has a garden and eats from it. The people eat what is in season... the don't import too many other kinds of fruits and veggies, only a few. Italian people are pretty healthy people... if the majority of Europe didn't smoke I think they would live to be ancient... because they walk everywhere.... up steep steep hills... and they eat really well. Also I have noticed that their diet is very high fat... cheeses, meats, olive oil.. but I rarely see a fat Italian... and their skin is incredible.. so tan and no wrinkles.. I think it is the Olive Oil. mmmmmm...... Tonight I am going to make my own dinner... I am thinking Caprese... and go sit on the rocks and read my Buddhism book and watcht the sun set... my kind of evening yo.
Oh and I cant post pictures at this internet place because there is no place to hook in my camera.. but I have great pics of this place... and Simon and Kyle... coming soon hopefully
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Cinque Terre
They weren't lying when they said this place is paradise. I am in Riomaggiore right now and have been for the past few days. Its so sos ossossooss sooooooooo beautiful!!! I am here with Kyle and Mallory but tonight is their last night. Its ok though because yesterday I made a friend from Montreal who is staying in my hostel. His name is Simon. Very nice... very cool... and a complete gentlemen. Those Canadians raise their children right.
Everything is relatively cheap here... this place is famous for its Focaccia bread and pesto... and I have eaten ample amounts of both. There is a very cool beach, relaxed vibe here... It is very laid back. Today we are walking to some of the other towns to see new beaches... I have laid on the beach for the past 2 days... its so nice... and it is a topless beach... but I didnt participate... haha
The water is so clear and blue... and its not too salty.. its lovely... and the first day on the beach I looked up to see 2 dolphins jumping across the near horizon following a boat... it was INCREDIBLE! I really love this place.... Oh and I met a cute boy from Brazil who is studying Italian in Bologna and I had a conversation in Italian with him. He said I was the first American who even tried to speak Italian and that he was impressed.
Last night a big group of us climbed out onto a jetty of rocks... watched the sunset.... and then watched for shooting stars... it was incredible.. my idea of a perfect evening... pics coming soon....
Everything is relatively cheap here... this place is famous for its Focaccia bread and pesto... and I have eaten ample amounts of both. There is a very cool beach, relaxed vibe here... It is very laid back. Today we are walking to some of the other towns to see new beaches... I have laid on the beach for the past 2 days... its so nice... and it is a topless beach... but I didnt participate... haha
The water is so clear and blue... and its not too salty.. its lovely... and the first day on the beach I looked up to see 2 dolphins jumping across the near horizon following a boat... it was INCREDIBLE! I really love this place.... Oh and I met a cute boy from Brazil who is studying Italian in Bologna and I had a conversation in Italian with him. He said I was the first American who even tried to speak Italian and that he was impressed.
Last night a big group of us climbed out onto a jetty of rocks... watched the sunset.... and then watched for shooting stars... it was incredible.. my idea of a perfect evening... pics coming soon....
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The End and The Beginning
Today is my last day in my Siena Italian Studies program... Maura left this morning for Rome and then she is off to France. I am so sad! I miss her, but I know we will keep in touch and she will come visit me in Utah! Vegas Reunion for the A Team!
Tomorrow Kyle, Mallory, and I leave early in the morning to catch the train to Cinque Terre. I am soooo excited to go there. There are beautiful beaches and supposedly the best pesto in the world.
I am staying with those 2 for the first night and then I move into the hostel I already booked.
Yesterday was amazing. Lavinnia (the program director) took us to these natural hot springs in the middle of the Tuscan countryside. There was a complete panoramic view of the most beautiful place I have ever seen! And I was laying in a giant natural hot spring pool. On the bottom of the pool there was this white mud that people were putting all over their faces and bodies. Lavinnia told us it was really good for the skin so we all put it all over us. I have funny pictures of that coming soon.
Then we went to a group farewell dinner that was soooo delicious. We had pasta, pesto, dessert, salad, zucchini, cheese, and lots and lots of wine. mmmmm
Later we met all of our friends in the Campo and had a beer. It was most of my friends' last night here in Siena. I spent a lot of time talking to Richard the South African. That was fun. He gave me a necklace. : )
This morning I woke up and saw Maura off with my host mom. I am drawing her a picture and writing her in Italian how much I appreciate her and what a great 'MOM' she was and what an amazing cook she is.
I understand Italian so much more than I did before.. well obviously because I knew nothing before I came. But I find myself reading signs and feeling more comfortable in stores when I have to ask for things. It's an amazing feeling and I am going to keep studying Italian.. and Spanish. then maybe French.
I wrote my final paper this afternoon. Its pretty good.. I am not gonna lie. And yesterday we took our final test for Italiano.
All the people of Siena are getting things ready for the Paleo. It is this HUGE and IMPORTANT horse race that they do twice a year. 60,000 people come each year and squish into the Campo to watch it. If you saw the Campo you would understand why that is insanity... Its not that big. I am kind of sad I will be missing it but I am glad I wont be trapped in a sweaty, hot, grumpy crowd of people for 6 hours. I am perfectly happy with watching it on the internet. I am going to try to come back to Siena for the August 16th Paleo. It has been really fun because each district in Siena has a symbol that represents them. My family's symbol is the Eagle for example, and each district throws parties, dances, and dinners for the 2 weeks up until the Paleo. Its craziness... and I really love how much commradery there is in each district. There are all very unified. I have never seen anything like it back home.
I am sad to be leaving Siena, but excited to start on the real adventure!!! And I am excited for freedom! And to go to the music festival! I miss my iPod so much and music in general.. i have found some good Italian bands that I am going to download when I get home.. but I need me some good American music. So... arrivederci Siena!!!! Be back soon...
Tomorrow Kyle, Mallory, and I leave early in the morning to catch the train to Cinque Terre. I am soooo excited to go there. There are beautiful beaches and supposedly the best pesto in the world.
I am staying with those 2 for the first night and then I move into the hostel I already booked.
Yesterday was amazing. Lavinnia (the program director) took us to these natural hot springs in the middle of the Tuscan countryside. There was a complete panoramic view of the most beautiful place I have ever seen! And I was laying in a giant natural hot spring pool. On the bottom of the pool there was this white mud that people were putting all over their faces and bodies. Lavinnia told us it was really good for the skin so we all put it all over us. I have funny pictures of that coming soon.
Then we went to a group farewell dinner that was soooo delicious. We had pasta, pesto, dessert, salad, zucchini, cheese, and lots and lots of wine. mmmmm
Later we met all of our friends in the Campo and had a beer. It was most of my friends' last night here in Siena. I spent a lot of time talking to Richard the South African. That was fun. He gave me a necklace. : )
This morning I woke up and saw Maura off with my host mom. I am drawing her a picture and writing her in Italian how much I appreciate her and what a great 'MOM' she was and what an amazing cook she is.
I understand Italian so much more than I did before.. well obviously because I knew nothing before I came. But I find myself reading signs and feeling more comfortable in stores when I have to ask for things. It's an amazing feeling and I am going to keep studying Italian.. and Spanish. then maybe French.
I wrote my final paper this afternoon. Its pretty good.. I am not gonna lie. And yesterday we took our final test for Italiano.
All the people of Siena are getting things ready for the Paleo. It is this HUGE and IMPORTANT horse race that they do twice a year. 60,000 people come each year and squish into the Campo to watch it. If you saw the Campo you would understand why that is insanity... Its not that big. I am kind of sad I will be missing it but I am glad I wont be trapped in a sweaty, hot, grumpy crowd of people for 6 hours. I am perfectly happy with watching it on the internet. I am going to try to come back to Siena for the August 16th Paleo. It has been really fun because each district in Siena has a symbol that represents them. My family's symbol is the Eagle for example, and each district throws parties, dances, and dinners for the 2 weeks up until the Paleo. Its craziness... and I really love how much commradery there is in each district. There are all very unified. I have never seen anything like it back home.
I am sad to be leaving Siena, but excited to start on the real adventure!!! And I am excited for freedom! And to go to the music festival! I miss my iPod so much and music in general.. i have found some good Italian bands that I am going to download when I get home.. but I need me some good American music. So... arrivederci Siena!!!! Be back soon...
Monday, June 23, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Classy soccer
Last night we got a bunch of people together and played soccer. There were people from all over the world playing together... boys and girls.. there were people from South Africa, Italy, France, Denmark, and the US all playing together. It's pretty amazing when you think about it.
We went straight from Italian class to the soccer field, and I had a dress on... but I coudn't resist getting in on the action.. so I played barefoot and in a dress!!! And I kicked butt! The boys were at a total disadvantage because they aren't going to knock over a girl and I knew that so I was really aggressive with them and they just let me have the ball! hahah
The night before was Romaney's birthday party. She is a girl living here in Siena, but she is from Cape Town, South Africa. She is really cool. She is getting her PhD in Genetics in Paris this fall. I have met a lot of her friends and I like them alot... I think we are all going out tonight too!
We have a favorite restaurant. It is called the Focacciaria. Its delicious and really cheap. It is £2 for a pizza. The guys that work there are really cute and we are good friends with all of them. They give us free food and drinks sometimes...That is where we had Romaney's party.
Monday is our final test for Italian class.. and I have to write a paper before Wed. However, tonight we are going to the Bottini (the underground acquaducts of Siena), tomorrow we are going to Florence for the day, Sunday we are going on a hike to Mt. Olivo. Then Monday we are going to some hot springs in Siena... so I don't know when I will have time to write this paper. haha. The night of Romaney's party we went to a outside dance party. During the summer right before The Paleo (the horse races) each contrada has parties and BBQ's... it is pretty fun. I danced with a very good looking boy from South Africa for most the night. His name is Richard and he has a undergrad degree in Mathmatics and he is moving to Arizona in the fall. I told him he has to come visit me. I told the director of our program that I really want to come back to live in Siena and he told me that I should... and we talked for about 2 hours about learning the language, volutneering, America\Italy, and living here.... it was a great conversation and I learned a lot.
We went straight from Italian class to the soccer field, and I had a dress on... but I coudn't resist getting in on the action.. so I played barefoot and in a dress!!! And I kicked butt! The boys were at a total disadvantage because they aren't going to knock over a girl and I knew that so I was really aggressive with them and they just let me have the ball! hahah
The night before was Romaney's birthday party. She is a girl living here in Siena, but she is from Cape Town, South Africa. She is really cool. She is getting her PhD in Genetics in Paris this fall. I have met a lot of her friends and I like them alot... I think we are all going out tonight too!
We have a favorite restaurant. It is called the Focacciaria. Its delicious and really cheap. It is £2 for a pizza. The guys that work there are really cute and we are good friends with all of them. They give us free food and drinks sometimes...That is where we had Romaney's party.
Monday is our final test for Italian class.. and I have to write a paper before Wed. However, tonight we are going to the Bottini (the underground acquaducts of Siena), tomorrow we are going to Florence for the day, Sunday we are going on a hike to Mt. Olivo. Then Monday we are going to some hot springs in Siena... so I don't know when I will have time to write this paper. haha. The night of Romaney's party we went to a outside dance party. During the summer right before The Paleo (the horse races) each contrada has parties and BBQ's... it is pretty fun. I danced with a very good looking boy from South Africa for most the night. His name is Richard and he has a undergrad degree in Mathmatics and he is moving to Arizona in the fall. I told him he has to come visit me. I told the director of our program that I really want to come back to live in Siena and he told me that I should... and we talked for about 2 hours about learning the language, volutneering, America\Italy, and living here.... it was a great conversation and I learned a lot.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
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